Catherine Tate upgraded to series regular on what is still somewhat mockingly being called The Office

While the next season of The Office will see the departures of characters, the awkward setup of a warily eyed spinoff, a new behind-the-scenes staff, and maybe even the introduction of a wisecracking cartoon walrus, because why not, the show will maintain at least one thread of continuity by making Catherine Tate an official series regular. The news should come as no surprise to viewers, considering Tate's Nellie spent most of the eighth season attaining some sort of redemption that arguably happened and was an important storyline, apparently. Tate will now continue along that path, as well as continuing to remind fans that the show they once loved is becoming all but unrecognizable and, in her particular character's case, a shadow even of its original UK incarnation—but doing so with a British accent, so it sounds all classy.